Wanted: A few - make that many - good men

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lubbock has announced a campaign to recruit men who are willing to serve as mentors to boys enrolled in the program.

Cindy Miller, executive director, said boys need a positive male role model in their lives.

"Most of the boys in our program don't have a male role model, and that's one of the reasons the families put them in the program," she said.

"It means so much to them - their faces just light up. It is having that one person they can look up to, that they can relate to other than their mom, their grandmother or their sisters."

Volunteers interested in helping Big Brothers Big Sisters may call 763-6131 for information and an interview.

"A mentor can be as young as 18," Miller said. "They just fill out an application. We do a one-on-one interview with them, and we do a criminal background check and reference checks on anyone who is interested in being a volunteer."

According to Miller, the time investment is about an hour a week.

Fredrick Beversdorf, who began volunteering in July 2006, spends two to three hours a week with his Little Brother.

"At first I just tried to find out what his interests were, and discovered that he and I both liked to do art and drawing," Beversdorf said. "But we also have rebuilt a bicycle. We have built a cardboard fort, gone camping in the backyard, played basketball and tennis, and have gone skating."

Beversdorf's Little Brother was 7 when they began spending time together each week and is now 8.

"I think it is important to him because the energy level is high, and he looks forward to it," Beversdorf said.

Miller said that Big Brothers Big Sisters can make suggestions for activities, but the choice is primarily up to volunteers and the parents.

"It's not really what they do, but that they do it together," she said. "The kids are not as worried about what kind of activity they are going to do. It's just the fact that they have someone they can do it with."

Beversdorf enjoys the time each week.

"It's a wonderful experience - it will make you grow as a person. I thought I was going to give a lot, kind of like a teacher. Instead, I am being taught."